Singer Jeff Hanson died from 'mixed drug toxicity'

July 23, 2009 - 12:08 AM

Jeff Hanson, the sweet-singing indie artist who gained national acclaim following his signing to the Kill Rock Stars label, died last month as result of "mixed drug toxicity" -- a deadly combination of drugs, autopsy results show.

The findings by the Ramsey County medical examiner's office differ from an earlier statement from his sister, Sara Hanson, who said that it was likely that Hanson, 31, had died from a fall or other accident in his concrete-floored St. Paul apartment.

Hanson, who grew up in Waukesha, Wis., divorced last year, and had no children.

According to the medical examiner's office, the manner of death is "undetermined," meaning that there was insufficient evidence to determine whether it was an accident or a suicide, said St. Paul police spokesman Sgt. Paul Schnell.

Family members say they believe that the death was an accident.

Schnell said that given the absence of suspicion surrounding the death, the Police Department had closed its investigation. Specifics as to the drugs found in Hanson's system are not public information, Schnell said.

Hanson's body was found June 5 on the floor of an apartment that he had moved into days earlier in the 2300 block of University Avenue W.